Sermon Reflections from A Faithful Tomorrow | Damon Hopkins | March 19, 2023
 
We had the privilege of hearing from Damon Hopkins again this Sunday.  His text was from Isaiah Chapters 36 and 37.  This is a very rich passage that has much to teach us in 2023.  Damon pointed out that King Hezekiah was remembered for his faithfulness to God.  What a wonderful legacy that I know each one of us would love for our lives.   2 Kings referred to King Hezekiah 18:3 “And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.  And 18:5 “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.”  

King Hezekiah chose to believe God when he was in a situation that was ‘against all odds’.  He saw no physical way he could defeat the king of Assyria, Sennacherib. The Assyrian army was brutal and overpowering. They had marched through northern Israel and taken them captive. They had conquered lands and people around Judah.  Sennacherib had his eyes on Judah and was marching towards Jerusalem.  He sent a messenger to ‘scare’ King Hezekiah into submission.  The messenger announce publically that they were doomed and that their God would not and could not save them from the mighty Assyrians.   King Hezekiah sent word to the prophet Isaiah asking him to inquire of the Lord.  Isaiah brought this message of hope from the Lord, Isaiah 37:6-7 “Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”  I’m sure Hezekiah was encouraged by this news.

Then, Sennacherib heard that Cush was going to come to Judah’s aid and join the fight.  He sent a letter to King Hezekiah defaming the power and might of God.  Isaiah 37:10 ““Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.”  When Hezekiah got the letter he made a bold choice.  He went to the temple and laid the letter before God and prayed: 37:16-20  “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 18 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”  

What does King Hezekiah’s prayer say about Hezekiah’s faith?  He knew whom to trust.  He knew that Sennacherib was just a man but God was God and sovereign over all people, place, times and events.  He knew that God was bigger than his greatest fears.  He knew that God would defend His name. He knew where he should place his trust He prayed so that he could move forward.  At present he was blocked in by Sennacherib but that was only temporary as God was greater than this earthly king and would deliver them just like Isaiah had told him.  He chose to trust God when things got difficult. 

What about you?  Do you choose to trust God to provide, rescue and deliver you day by day?  Hezekiah’s hope was propelled forward though prayer.  How do you face difficulties?  Do you chose to go it alone or turn to God and ask Him for help?  Hezekiah followed the advice James gives in James 1:5-6 “ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 4:2b-3  You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.”   King Hezekiah knew that God had the wisdom and power to save them so He asked in faith, not doubting.  He also knew He needed to humble himself and ask God for help. 

I pray you will take some time this week and read Isaiah 36 and 37.  Let King Hezekiah’s experiences speak to you as you consider how you can incorporate prayer into your life in a new and vibrant way.  Prayer brings results- ask Hezekiah or someone at Crossroads. God answers prayer!

Linda

SERMON LINK
ISAIAH: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE | A Faithful Tomorrow
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Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
​Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. 

Sermon Reflection from January 8, 2023 | A New Prayer
 
       As we begin a New Year, Pastor Alex is challenging us to look at the ‘old’ ways were have been doing things and seek a New way which through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit will produce a New You!  Last week, he looked at God’s Word and challenged us to dig in, dive in and immerse ourselves so that our Newer You would be pointed to God through His Word.  This week he is challenging us to talk to God and establish a firm and lasting connection to carry us through this New Year of 2023.
     
To start this New journey we need to have a conversation with God.  That sounds easy enough but in reality it can be difficult.  Finding and taking the time to stop the distractions that surround us and focus on communicating with God and be a challenge.  There are some tools that might be helpful in this:  your Bible is a great resource of how to talk with God, what to ask of Him and why you need to talk things over with Him.  For example in Psalm 23 the psalmist, David, point us to God’s ability to provide, calm, guide, eliminate fear, protect from evil, provide tools for me to use, has prepared a place for me to be and will always have my best in mind.  As you read the psalm you can pray for these things to be manifested in your life or the life of someone you are seeking to uplift.
 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Another idea of how to start this conversation with God is to use the ACTS method.  A- adoration.  Start your prayer time with praise and adoration for who God is.  A way to do this is to use the alphabet and pray an attribute of God with each letter, thanking him for his character that sustains you. C-confession.  Over and over in scripture we are told to repent, which is being sorry for our sins.  Tell God your failings and ask Him to help you over come through His Holy Spirit which dwells within you as a believer.  T- thanks.  Before we ask God for more, we need to be aware and thankful for all He has done for us.  It puts things into perspective as nothing else can.  Lastly, S- supplication which is talking to God about your needs and the needs of others.  Hopefully, you will find scripture, the alphabet or ACTS helpful in starting that conversation with Almighty God.

     How does one create a connection with God?  Through prayer certainly but also reading His Word and fellowshipping with other believers helps us to see the importance of family, hope, relationships and strength that comes from linking ourselves together by faith.  When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we join God’s family.  He is our Father and we belong to Him and with Him.  That is a connection that cannot be severed.  I love John 10:28 “ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”   Through faith in Jesus, I belong to and with God for eternity, and no one or nothing can remove Him from me or me from Him! Praise God!

     Why wouldn’t you want to have the Newer version of yourself?  You can talk with God anytime or anyplace.  You can be assured of your place in His family and will always have brothers and sisters in Christ to share in your hopes, joys and sorrows.   You have a permanent relationship with God that no one can take away from you, ever!  You belong to God and He desires a relationship with YOU!
     Take time in this New Year to cultivate this God provided relationship through faith in Jesus and let the benefits spill over into each and every day of 2023!
 
Linda

SERMON LINK
A New You | A New Prayer
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Sermon series, "A New You" Today Alex Hardt share how Prayer Transforms the Heart

​If you are local, please join us for our weekly service. Our Sunday service is held at 11:00am.
​Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass.