Baptized Into Christ
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Baptized into Christ: Pedro Vargas 40 Days of Prayer • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image October 18-November 26 24 Hour • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image www.greatoaks.org/prayer Praying for Memphis Sunday November 15, 2020 Image from: www.Wikipedia.com • Image from: www.lightstock.com Praying with Hezekiah, Part 2 Part with Hezekiah, Praying 2 Kings 18:1-6 3 He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, in accordance with everything that his father David had done. 2 Kings 18:1-6 5 He trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel; and after him there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who came before him. 6 For he clung to the LORD; he did not desist from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. Isaiah Chapter 38 • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image ➢ Isaiah’s Message Isaiah 38:1 1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him and said to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are going to die and not live.’” Isaiah Chapter 38 • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image ➢ Hezekiah’s Reaction Isaiah 38:2-3 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 and said, “Please, LORD, just remember how I have walked before You wholeheartedly and in truth, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept profusely. Isaiah Chapter 38 • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image Compare this to Ahaziah 2 Kings 1:2-4 2 And Ahaziah fell through the window lattice in his upper chamber which was in Samaria, and became ill. So he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal- zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this sickness.” 2 Kings 1:2-4 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’ 2 Kings 1:2-4 4 Now therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘You will not get down from the bed upon which you have lain, but you shall certainly die.’” Then Elijah departed. Isaiah Chapter 38 • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image ➢ God’s Answer Isaiah 38:4-6 4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David says: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. Isaiah 38:4-6 6 And I will save you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will protect this city.”’ Isaiah 38:7-8 7 “And this shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will perform this word that He has spoken: Isaiah 38:7-8 8 Behold, I will make the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, go back ten steps.” So the sun’s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down. Reflecting on Prayer • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image 1) God shows us here that He really responds to prayer. Isaiah 37:21 21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent word to Hezekiah, saying, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word that the LORD has spoken against him: Matthew 7:7-11 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-11 9 Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? Matthew 7:7-11 11 So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Reflecting on Prayer • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image 2) A time when the miracle didn’t come: Matthew 26:39 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” 39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” Reflecting on Prayer • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image 3) That reminds us, if God says no: Reflecting on Prayer • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image (1) God knows something we don’t. Romans 8:28 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Reflecting on Prayer • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image (2) Keep trusting and praying! Daniel 3:16-18 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. Daniel 3:16-18 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.” His Final 15 Years • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image ➢ The Bible tells us God was displeased with his pride. Isaiah 39:1-6 1 At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. Isaiah 39:1-6 2 Hezekiah was pleased, and let them see all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the balsam oil, the excellent olive oil, his entire armory, and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his realm that Hezekiah did not let them see. Isaiah 39:1-6 3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a far country, from Babylon.” Isaiah 39:1-6 4 Then he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not let them see.” Isaiah 39:1-6 5 Isaiah then said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of armies, 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when everything that is in your house, and what your fathers have stored up to this day, will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the LORD. 2 Chronicles 32:25-26 25 But Hezekiah did nothing in return for the benefit he received, because his heart was proud; therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 32:25-26 26 However, Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come on them in the days of Hezekiah. His Final 15 Years • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image ➢ God answers prayers of imperfect people! His Final 15 Years • Image from: www.lightstock.com from: Image ➢ How it ended: 2 Chronicles 32:33 2 Chronicles 32:33 33 So Hezekiah lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper section of the tombs of the sons of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. And his son Manasseh became king in his place. • Image from: www.lightstock.com A final passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 1 Thessalonians 5:17 17 pray without ceasing, Hear/learn about Christ Hear (Rom. 10:17) Believe Believe in Christ What (John 8:24) Must I Commit to live for Christ Repent Do To Be (Acts 2:38) Saved? Confess faith in Christ Confess (Romans 10:9-10) Be Baptism into Christ Baptized (Acts 2:38, Rom 6:3-4) James 5:16 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much..