First Church of god in Harvey
Sunday Morning, May 15th, 2011
Let us pray
Welcome…
“O Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 118: 1)
On last Friday, at approximately 11:00 am, one of God’s faithful servant, in the person of sister .......... went home to be with the Lord. She is absent from the body, but now present with the Lord. Sis. ........... was always longing to go home, and on Friday her prayer was answered. She was a wonderful example of a child of God, and she will be greatly missed. Today we give thanks unto the Lord, because he is good, and his mercy endures for ever……...…
Today, God is looking for a man, a woman, a boy or a girl to stand in the gap .Will you answer the call? In Ezekiel 22 verse 30 we read, And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
As I was praying last Sunday night, crying out to God, I found myself saying over and over, It is going to be alright. I believe God was saying to me, that despite how things might look, it is going to be alright. I believe God wants somebody to hear these words, it is going to be alright.. Maybe right now things don’t look so good for you, but God is saying, it is going to be alright. Maybe right now, it seems everything is caving in, but God is saying, it is going to be alright. Maybe…elaborate..
As I was doing my assigned Bible reading for last Sunday, God just started to bless as I was reading, and today I would like to share from what I was reading.
Our scripture reading for today, will be taken from. 2 Kings 18 verses 1 through 5; 2 Kings 19 verses 1 through 8 and 15 through 20. s.
Our topic for today is, Standing In The Gap. Here are three things for us to consider. Number 1- Don’t be afraid to stand for what is right. Number 2 – Don’t be afraid to seek godly advice. Number 3 – Don’t be afraid to cry out to God.
On Monday, May 2nd, 2011, the Master mind of 911 was shot and killed, in the person of Osama Bin La-den. People all over the world rejoice including Christians. In the death of Bin La-den, many might think that our problems have been solved, but that is not so, sin continues to manifest in the lives of people, even those who call themselves the people of God.
The people of God, God’s chosen people, the children of Israel continually sinned against God, and during the reign of king Ho-she-a, in 722 BC, God’s people were taken captive by the king of Assyria. God does not like sin. Let’s read 2 Kings 17 verses 5 through 8. The Northern Kingdom, the Kingdom of Israel, while they were in captivity, the surviving kingdom of Judah had a king in the person of king Hezekiah who was willing to stand in the gap. As we read through the Bible we hear these sad words about the Kingdom of Israel or the Kingdom of Judah that this or that king did evil in the sight of the Lord.
Here is a roll call of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah and if they were good or bad. (read list) In the list of these kings who were mostly bad, there was a king who did right in the sight of the Lord. I want to tell somebody today, whether you are young or old, rich or poor, don’t be afraid to stand for what is right. All around us people are failing, all around us people are doing things that are contrary to the Word of God, all around us people are bowing to the world’s music, but God is looking for someone, to stand in the gap, and who is not afraid to stand for what is right.
There is nothing cute about lying. There is nothing fashionable about stealing. There is nothing to brag about committing adultery or fornication, God is calling for a man, a woman, a boy or a girl, to stand in the gap, and stand for what is right. Years ago when people had an alternate lifestyle it would not be talked about in public, but today people have gotten bold and is not afraid to express themselves as to who they are. The government might think it is alright, people around us might think it is alright, church folks might say don’t rock the boat, but it is time to rock the boat and call sin, sin. It is time for God’s people to stand up, and speak out against sin. It is time for God’s people to sound the alarm. In Joel 2 the prophet Joel declares, Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh for it is nigh at hand.
In our text, we find that king Hezekiah was not afraid to stand in the gap,. And he was not afraid to stand for what is right. In our text it says that, Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that David his father did. Hezekiah’s father was regarded as a wicked king, Even though Ahaz his father was wicked, Hezekiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord. As children of God today, are we all doing what is right in the sight of the Lord?. When we are absent from our brothers and sisters, are we doing what is right in the sight of the Lord? When we are around strangers, where people don’t know that we are members of the First Church of God in Harvey, are we doing what is right in the sight of the Lord? When we go to that football, baseball or basketball game, and things get out of hand, are we doing what is right in the sight of the Lord? God is calling for someone to stand in the gap, and don’t be afraid to stand for what is right.
In our text it says that Hezekiah trusted in the Lord God of Israel. Too many people are putting their trust in man. Too many people are putting their trust in their jobs and their 401ks. Too many people are putting their trust in what their country can do for them, and just a few it seems are putting their trust in the Lord God. Hezekiah’s trust was in the Lord God of Israel; and because his trust was in God, the Bible says, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
Hezekiah has passed and gone for many years, but we can still read about the good things said about him. When you and I leave this world , will there be something good that someone can say about us? On Friday all I could hear was good things said about sister Velma Southern; one who lived an exemplary life among others, and she stood for what she believed…elaborate….
Israel has been taken captive by Assyria, and it seems they are not satisfied, and so they are coming after Judah. Hezekiah went through a testing time with Assyria under king Sen-nach-e-rib. It seems Hezekiah was losing the battle, .it seems nothing was going right. In his time of afflictions, king Hezekiah sought help, and he went into the house of the Lord. I want to tell somebody today, when it appears you are losing the battle, when it appears all your hope is gone, just get close to God and seek out some godly advice. So often as Christians we go to the wrong source for advice. It is hard for a person who is crying out for help to really help you. That man who is out there drowning and calling out for help, he can’t help you if you are drowning, because you both need help.
Hezekiah sought godly counsel, he sought help from the prophet Isaiah. Here is what he did, he sent Eli-a-kim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. Hezekiah found himself powerless, and he sought the necessary help. He realized what had happened to the kingdom of Israel, and he sought godly advice. Here is the message that was sent to Isaiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke and blasphemy; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth. Saints of God, what do you do when you are in trouble? What do you do when it appears there is no way out? What do you do when your strength is almost gone? The message to Isaiah was, this is a day of distress; time of trouble has come upon us; we are like a woman who has no strength to bear the child that is coming to birth.
King Hezekiah was standing in the gap, and he was not afraid to seek godly advice. Some people when things are not going so good will check on their horiscope to get some advice. Some will check on others to read their palm. Some will try to find out what the cards might be saying, but Hezekiah decided to seek some godly advice. Some will go to the Chineese restaurant to get a fortune cooky to see what it says. Some will get on the telephone to seek out someone to look into the future for them, but Hezekiah decided to seek out some godly advice. Thank God, Isaiah had a word from the Lord. Thank God Isaiah was in contact with the Lord. It is a good thing to know the Lord, and to receive a word from the Lord.
Isaiah had a word from the Lord, and in verses 6 and 7 of our text, this is what it says. Thus saith the Lord, Be not afraid or do not be alarmed of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold I will send a blast upon him, and he shall have a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
I want somebody to know today, just leave everything up to God. Stop fighting. Stop trying to figure things out. Stop trying to wonder why things are not working out the way you had planned. It is not your battle, the battle is the Lord’s. David had to go up against a giant. From all outward appearances, there was no contest. From all outward appearances, Goliath sound right when he said he would give David’s flesh to the fowls of the air and the beast of the field. From all outward appearances, David and the Israelites were headed for destruction. God had a man in the person of David who was willing to stand in the gap. King Saul could not help him. The soldiers around him could not help him. The swords and spears that they had, could not help David.
David God’s man knew what God could do. David knew that everything was going to be alright. In 1 Samuel 17 verses 46 and 47, David spoke out with boldness. Let’s read from the screen…This day will………….
Saints of God, the battle is the Lord’s. Saints of God, leave everything into the hands of God, it is going to be alright………
Don’t be afraid to stand for what is right. Don’t be afraid to seek godly advice, Finally, don’t be afraid to cry out to God.
As I look around today, I wonder how many of us as Christians take the time to cry out to God. It is so very easy to find reasons why we do not have to cry out to God. It is so very easy to say it does not take all of that. It is so very easy to say we don’t have to spend all that time talking to God. It is so very easy to say, prayer time is cutting in on my time to watch the baseball game, the football game, the basketball game, and don’t forget my soap opera, my game show, my talk show, my tv evangelist, and so I will just make it short and to the point.
On May 1st, 2011, the Chicagoland Area Minister’s Fellowship was called together for a time of United prayer. It was not a time of preaching, but it was a time of praying. We had various seasons of prayer. We prayed for repentance and confession; deliverance and healing, spirit, soul and body; salvation & resurrection of our families; resurrection and protection of our children and youth; resurrection & restoration of our communities; nation and the world, CAMF churches, pastors, NACOG & COG.
Here in our text we find God’s man standing in the gap, and was not afraid to cry out to God. Let’s read from the screen 2 Kings 19 verses 15 through 20 "And Hezekiah prayed……....."
After Hezekiah had cried out to God; after he had poured out his soul before the Lord, the Lord answered his prayer. There is an old song we used to sing that goes like this, "Though the night has been long, and my trials severe, And heavy my burdens of care; As the mists of the morning, they will all disappear, When Jesus answers my prayer." Has Jesus answered any of your prayers lately? Or, when was the last time your prayer was answered? As we look around we can see answers to prayer. So often our prayers have been answered and we don’t even realize what has happened. God has been good to us. God has shown His love to us. Yes, God has answered many of our prayers, and so often we forgot to say thank you. I am grateful to God for all that He has done for me. I am thankful to God for the love He has shown to me. The song says, "When Jesus answers my prayer, When Jesus answers my prayer, Oh, the rapture that thrills, the glory that fills, When Jesus answers my prayer!"
Hezekiah, God’s man was standing in the gap. Hezekiah’s God’s man was crying out to God. Hezekiah God’s man was pouring out his soul before God, and God answered his prayer. Here is the answer for Hezekiah, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sen-nach-e-rib king of Assyria I have heard. Isn’t God good? Hezekiah, I have heard your prayer. John, Mary, Charles, whatever your name might be, I have heard your prayer. God is saying to us today, it is going to be alright. God is calling for somebody to come and stand in the gap.
After God had heard the prayer of Hezekiah, God sent his divine protection in 2 Kings 19 verses 32 through 37 (read) Right now for some, it might appear that the enemy is winning, but don’t be fooled, it is going to be alright. Right now you might be going through your tests and trials, but take courage, it is going to be alright. "Then my faith that is tried by the anguish and pain, of afflictions so heavy to bear, Is rewarded at last by a wonderful gain, when Jesus answers my prayer."
God is calling for a man. A woman, a boy or a girl to come and stand in the gap. As you stand in the gap, don’t be afraid to stand for what is right; don’t be afraid to seek godly advice, and don’t be afraid to cry out to God.
Let us stand
Call to discipleship
Closing song/prayer
