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“A GREAT MULTITUDE OF ALL NATIONS AND KINDREDS AND PEOPLES AND LANGUAGES” (REV. 7:9). tscnyc.org VOL XI / ISSUE 5 / MAY 2015

Dear Friend, THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED Yesterday during a live radio by Carter Conlon interview, the host made an interesting observation. She said “In the year that King Uzziah the Lord, made him prosper” words to this effect: “It seems to died, I saw the Lord sitting on a (:5). The people me that this country (America), throne, high and lifted up, and the flourished, giftings were bestowed, like the Titanic, has struck an train of His robe filled the temple. and their ability to invent and iceberg and we are rapidly sinking. Above it stood seraphim; each one produce new weapons of war made However, many of our churches had six wings: with two he covered Judah the marvel of the nations. are like cabins below deck where his face, with two he covered his soft music is playing and people feet, and with two he flew. And You and I can lay claim to are just relaxing and enjoying one cried to another and said: something similar in America. ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of We are a young nation compared themselves. Where is the alarm hosts; the whole earth is full of to most on the face of the earth among God’s people?” His glory!’ And the posts of the door today, yet it is indisputable that were shaken by the voice of him who people who came to this country Interesting question. I suppose cried out, and the house was filled from all over the world were made the deeper issue is whether or with smoke” ( 6:1–4, NKJV). strong by the hand of God. We were not we can still be stirred to action. marvelously helped, wonderfully Those of us who legitimately have What an incredible encounter gifted, and became the envy of the Spirit of Christ within us cannot Isaiah had with the Lord! And the world in many respects. possibly sit idly by while multitudes notice that it took place in the face the consequences of our national year that King Uzziah died. However, there is an important disregard for the ways of God. If In order to understand the lesson that we must learn from God has given us a voice, then we significance of the timing, it Uzziah. His death was an ominous must speak now. If we will ask Him, is important to know a little warning to the nation that greatness He will assuredly lift us all into His bit about Uzziah’s life. without godliness opens the gateway presence again and give us the heart, to a sorrowful and tragic finish. mind, passion and power we need to Greatness without sound the alarm and call those who n PRIDE GOES can hear back to the mercy of God. godliness opens BEFORE DESTRUCTION Though the ship may sink, thank the gateway to What exactly happened to Uzziah? God the cross still floats—and The Scriptures explain it rather there is plenty of room for all! a sorrowful and clearly: “He was marvelously helped till he became strong. But when tragic finish. he was strong his heart was lifted up, Press on, my dear friend, press on! to his destruction, for he transgressed The book of Second Chronicles against the Lord his God by entering Yours, in Christ, tells us that Uzziah was sixteen the temple of the Lord to burn years old when he took the on the of incense” Pastor Carter Conlon throne, and he went on to (2 Chronicles 26:15–16, NKJV). reign in Jerusalem for fifty-two years. Under his leadership, the Although it was an act clearly nation rose to incredible heights forbidden in the law, Uzziah of political, financial and military decided to go into the temple to power, for “as long as he sought offer incense. This act was a type THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED tscnyc.org

of a society and its leadership With the censer still in his hand over to a debased mind, to becoming its own judge of what and anger rising in his heart, the do those things which are not is right and what is wrong. He Scriptures tell us that Uzziah’s fitting” (Romans 1:18–21, 28). had known success for so long forehead broke out in . It that his heart was lifted up in pride; was a visible sign of the spiritually Once the envy of the nations, he had reached a place where diseased condition of his mind— America is now becoming the he assumed he could do nothing an outward expression of what had mockery of the nations. We are wrong in God’s sight. Of course, long ago started to ferment inside becoming increasingly weak and the Bible warns us that pride of him. He found himself shamed confused; we are paralyzed socially, always goes before destruction for the rest of his days, and he died politically, and morally. It is obvious and a haughty spirit before a in a leper colony. that the hand of God is not upon us fall (see Proverbs 16:18). in the way it once was. Once the envy Eighty priests of the Lord went n GOD’S RESPONSE in after Uzziah, warning him, “It of the nations, So how does God respond when is not for you to burn incense to the a nation finds itself in such a Lord!” (see 2 Chronicles 26:17–19). America is now perilous condition? First of all, In other words, “What you are doing becoming the remember that it was “in the year is not right. God has not prescribed that King Uzziah died” that Isaiah it to be done this way. You are taking mockery of saw the Lord. In other words, it was something that is wrong and calling the nations. the year when all hope seemed to it right; taking something evil and be gone. It was the year when trying to call it good.” Yet, as these This goes to show that the disease military might was failing, the men who represented the truth of of the soul first manifests in the economy was in tatters, and God withstood this king of pride, minds of the people and then in enemies were laughing. It was he became furious with them. their subsequent behaviors. For the year when greatness and glory What a stark difference from example, where did we ever get the seemed to be something relegated those early years when he had idea in this nation that we were as to history, leaving people afraid sought the Lord in humility! God—that we could declare what for their future. It was the year is good and what is evil? Why did that God responded with a final we assume we could transgress the act of mercy to that generation, Why did we Word of God, which was once our and He did so by drawing someone assume we could own foundation, and not pay a price into His presence. That is what for it? We suppressed the truth we He always has done, and that is transgress the once knew and, as a result, we have what He always will do. Word of God, subjected ourselves to living in an illusion and opened ourselves to a “I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, which was diseased mind. high and lifted up, and the train once our own of His robe filled the temple. Above It is just as the Apostle Paul it stood seraphim; each one had six foundation, warned in the book of Romans: wings: with two he covered his face, “For the wrath of God is revealed with two he covered his feet, and and not pay a from heaven against all ungodliness with two he flew. And one cried price for it? and unrighteousness of men, who to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, suppress the truth in unrighteousness, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole Similarly, you and I are living in because what may be known of earth is full of His glory!’ And the a time when a fury is mounting God is manifest in them, for God posts of the door were shaken by against those who speak for God. has shown it to them...Although the voice of him who cried out, We are somewhere between they knew God, they did not glorify and the house was filled with persecution and prosecution in Him as God, nor were thankful, smoke” (:1–4). Isaiah the house of God in this nation. but became futile in their thoughts, was drawn into God’s presence Those who stand for truth, as Isaiah and their foolish hearts were where he was given a revelation said, have become a prey of the darkened...And even as they of the majesty, power, holiness and ungodly—something to be vilified did not like to retain God in glory of the One whose purposes and cast down (see :15). their knowledge, God gave them were being fulfilled in the earth. tscnyc.org THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED

Upon having this encounter with touched him, and he became aware it would make an eternal difference God, Isaiah immediately became that it was the delight of God to in one out of ten people that he aware of his own uncleanness as forgive and cleanse. would speak to. well as that of the people around him. “So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I Similarly, in our day those who have By drawing a parallel to a tree that is am undone! Because I am a man been humbled because they have cut down but still has life remaining of unclean lips, and I dwell in the been in the presence of the Lord in its stump—eventually causing a midst of a people of unclean lips; begin to recognize His incredible new tree to sprout forth—God was for my eyes have seen the King, mercy. They understand that it is essentially telling Isaiah, “This the Lord of hosts’” (Isaiah 6:5). in God’s heart to forgive every society has reached a point where man, woman, and child in America. the majority are against My ways. Think about it—Isaiah was He doesn’t want to judge! It is Despite the fact that you have stood a religious man living in a His desire to gather a people in My presence, they are so bent on religious nation; he even had to Himself once again. being their own god that most will not some responsibility in the temple. repent. Nevertheless, for your effort, Yet, until that moment, he had n A DIFFICULT MINISTRY one in ten will hear what you have to never fully seen the holiness of After being touched by mercy, say. Even though the nation goes into God. Suddenly, in the presence Isaiah began to hear the thoughts trial and cities are laid waste, there of the Lord, he understood that of God’s own heart as He was will be one in ten who will have My all of our human righteousness is conversing with Himself—Father, life planted within them. No matter as filthy rags. He understood that Son, and Holy Spirit. “Also I heard what happens around them, they will there is nothing we can do of our the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom live. They will stand and endure; own accord—no sacrifice we make, shall I send, and who will go for they will be like a tree planted by no good thing we produce—that Us?’” (Isaiah 6:8). In other words, the rivers of living water.” will ever give us the right to stand who will go and be an ambassador in the presence of a holy God. of mercy to this undeserving people? Who will be Keep in mind that the nation had “Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send willing to stand, been faltering because of pride under me.’ And He said, ‘Go, and tell this Uzziah’s leadership. At this point, the people: “Keep on hearing, but do not facing the fear of only thing that could counterbalance understand; keep on seeing, but do rejection and the it would be a people who were not not perceive.” Make the heart of this filled with pride but rather humility, people dull, and their ears heavy, pride of wanting so the timing of Isaiah’s encounter and shut their eyes; lest they see with to be loved by was strategic. their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and everyone? Once Isaiah was humbled in the return and be healed.’ Then I said, presence of the Lord, the Scriptures ‘Lord, how long?’ And He answered, One in ten! Of course, that one in ten describe an amazing transaction ‘Until the cities are laid waste and will still have to go through the same that took place: “One of the seraphim without inhabitant, the houses are sorrow and trials as everyone else. flew to me, having in his hand a without a man, the land is utterly However, a seed of God’s life will be live coal which he had taken with desolate, the Lord has removed men found within them, enabling them to the tongs from the altar. And he far away, and the forsaken places are live when all around them seems lost. touched my mouth with it, and many in the midst of the land. But yet said: ‘Behold, this has touched a tenth will be in it, and will return n WHO WILL GO? your lips; your iniquity is taken and be for consuming, as a terebinth And so this is my question for away, and your sin purged’” tree or as an oak, whose stump you now: Is the one in ten worth (Isaiah 6:6–7, NKJV). In other remains when it is cut down. So it? Is it worth suffering the rejection, words, beyond recognizing his own the holy seed shall be its stump’” the scorn, the vilification, the sneers, uncleanness and that of the (Isaiah 6:8–13, NKJV). the lies of the nine—everything people, Isaiah now saw the that we will have to endure in this willingness of God to forgive Isaiah was eager to be sent as an generation if we desire to stand for those who would turn back to ambassador of mercy, yet God was God? Now bear in mind that if God Him! Isaiah did not have to plead warning him that this ministry was gives us one in ten, it means that or beg for it. Mercy came and not going to be easy. Nevertheless, more than 30 million people in THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED

the United States will turn back to In the same way, when God is about CARTER CONLON Him! Some who are already walking to use your life in a deeper way, you Carter Conlon is senior pastor of with God will be strengthened, others will become very aware of your own Times Square Church, where he who are backslidden will come home, failures and frailties. However, it has been on the pastoral staff and many who do not know God is in that place of brokenness and since 1994. will find Him. humility—that place where you are completely undone and keenly aware When God is that you do not have the right to even TIMES SQUARE CHURCH speak the name of Jesus—that you Times Square Church was founded about to use your truly recognize God’s mercy in your in 1987 by Pastor Wilkerson, life in a deeper life. In His mercy, He has forgiven author of “The Cross and the you, cleansed you, covered you and Switchblade.” It is an interdenomina- way, you will called you. And if He is willing to do tional church located in the heart of that for you, He is willing to do the New York City. become very same for others around you. aware of your Tel: Therefore, this is not a time to 212-541-6300 own failures be silent. This godlessness of our and frailties. generation is not going to go away on its own. Light must counter it and Fax: Oh, can you hear the voice of God you and I are the light of this world. 212-541-6415 calling out once again, “Who will go? We are the hope of this generation. Who will be willing to stand, facing the fear of rejection and the pride Remember, it is in God’s heart Church Location: of wanting to be loved by everyone? to use those of us who feel like 237 West 51st Street Who will go and tell the people of we are undone. People who have Between Broadway & 8th Avenue this generation about My desire to been humbled in the sight of God forgive in spite of their folly? Who tend to have a natural compassion will tell them that if they will just for people in our society who are Mailing Address: come and stand in My presence, indulging in all sorts of behavior. 1657 Broadway, 4th Floor I will touch them and plant within They will not speak with arrogance, New York, NY 10019 them new life and new hope?” simply presenting another argument. No! They will stand humbly before Perhaps you have thought lately, people, speaking with kindness. Just e-mail: [email protected]

“I cannot even bring myself to speak as they have been touched with the design: hybridstudios.com the name Jesus in my workplace. tenderness of God, tenderness will I am such a coward!” Or maybe all emerge from their lips. These are you can see are your struggles and the ones whom God will use as His WEEKLY SCHEDULE OF SERVICES failures, and you wonder how you ambassadors in this hour, for they Sunday 10:00AM 3:00PM 6:00PM could ever be a mouthpiece for the will be sent with one message to Tuesday 7:00PM Prayer Service Lord. Yet the beauty of the story of declare: “God is good, and His Friday 7:00PM The Gate* Isaiah is that at the point when he mercy endures forever!” *Youth and Young Adult Service says, “Here I am, send me!” he is still undone. He is weak, and he knows it. He knows that he has tscnyc.org no right to boast of himself, for he Carter Conlon has seen what he is without God. ©2015 Times Square Church

This newsletter is an edited version of “THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED,” a sermon given on January 4, 2015 in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in New York City. Other sermons are available by visiting our website at tscnyc.org. You are welcome to make additional copies of this sermon for free distribution to friends. However, for all other forms of reproduction or electronic transmission existing copyright laws apply. This sermon cannot be posted on any website or webpage without permission from Times Square Church. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are from the King James Version.