SRPC 《《 *BIBLE STUDY* 》》
Sunday 23 October 2022
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
‘PROVOKING’ GOD TO (RE)CONSIDER, SEE & HEAR
Here we explore the questions…
… Can I change the mind of God over my situation?
… Can I or should I give God a reason to bless me or change my negative situation into a positive one?
… Do my ‘good’ works count for anything with the Lord?
… as all our righteous deeds are considered as filthy rags ( Isaiah 64:6)
.
~~~~
Some of the situations we find ourselves in are not necessarily cast on stone…
… they are not permanent
… and we are given an opportunity to contend for a change in our situations!
… to change ( choose) curse for blessing, death for life… (Deuteronomy 30:19)
.
Matthew 11:12 NKJV
- And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
.
Genesis 27:40 NKJV
- By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.”
.
God is looking to bless and perform for those with pleasing faith in Him!
… believing that God is more than able to perform for or reward those that truly believe in and seek Him out diligently…
… like David over Goliath
.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
- But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9a KJV
- For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Psalm 35:27 AMP
- Let them shout for joy and rejoice, who favor my vindication and want what is right for me; Let them say continually, “Let the LORD be magnified, who delights and takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
.
Last time we explored how to position ourselves for favour and blessing…
… how Jabez refused to be a victim of his birth or naming circumstances and how he changed it through prayer.
… how the thinking of our heart determines the issues that will flow into our lives
… how we need to be strong and courageous to contend for our blessing like Jacob & Joshua.
Here we explore the amazing love, mercy and grace of God through the story of King Hezekiah of Judah (Isaiah 38) and how he ‘provoked’ God to change his situation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isaiah 38:1-5 NKJV
1. In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘ Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ”
2. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord ,
3. and said, “ Remember now, O Lord , I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4. And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying,
5. “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord , the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer , I have seen your tears ; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.
.
Key notables
>> Bringing the Lord to remembrance
>> Having the Lord hear and see us or our situation
.
~~
This story of King Hezekiah of Judah in Isaiah 38
… is a classic case of …God reveals to redeem
… God reveals His Word , whether Rhema or Logos
… to make us wise for salvation
… preparing and equipping us for good works that will help us fulfill destiny.
.
II Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV
- and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures , which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
- that the man of God may be complete , thoroughly equipped for every good work.
.
Amos 3:7 NKJV
- Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
.
Genesis 18:17 NKJV
- And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
.
The revelations of the Lord may be an invitation for us to dialogue with Him and possibly realign ourselves accordingly… to His Word.
.
Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV
- The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
.
Isaiah 1:18 KJV
- Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
.
Isaiah 43:26 NKJV
- Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.
.
The veil of the Temple was torn into two,
… and it gives us direct access to engage with the Lord …
… to boldly approach the Throne of Grace
… to receive mercy and find grace to help
… in this time of favor when God hears
… in this day of salvation when God is ready to help
.
Mark 15:37-38
- Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Hebrews 14:16 NKJV
- Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NIV
- As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “ In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. ” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Therefore, for God to (re)consider, see & hear us on our situation…
Lessons from the story of Hezekiah King of Judah in Isaiah 38…
Is to
… bring the Lord in remembrance
… ensure that the Lord sees and hears us.
~~
Malachi 3:16-18 NKJV
- Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name.
- “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
- Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
.
Esther 6:1-3 NKJV
- That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
- And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.
- Then the king said, “ What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” And the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
~~
1 John 5:15 AMP
- And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.
…but
Isaiah 59:1-2 NKJV
- Behold, the Lord ’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
- But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.
.
Sample conditions for God to listen & hear…
2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NKJV
- if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face , and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
- Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
~~
Isaiah 58:6-9 NKJV
6. “ Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
7. Is it not to share your bread with the hungry , And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked , that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8. Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am. ’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
~~~~~
PRAYER
We thank our Lord Jesus Christ
… our righteousness & our holiness
… that enables us to boldly approach the Throne of Grace
… to receive mercy
… and find grace for help in our time of need.
AMEN!!
THE LIVING WORD 4 LIFE 