ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH SERMON OUTLINES
Our Prayer-hearing And Prayer-answering God
Text: II Kings 20:1-6 IBCSWS October 1, 2006
Preacher: Pastor Jose B. Cabajar
A deep realization that we have a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God keeps us assured that peace and comfort are always possible even in our darkest night. What an advantage we have in Christ as we live in the midst of the so called “worry-hurry-bury” generation.
The Bible account of the life of King Hezekiah reminds us of the loving-favor of God toward those who trust Him and walk in truth. In II Kings 18:5-17, it is written, He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. (KJV) These passages from the Bible reveal to us the secret of King Hezekiah’s uniqueness and dramatic prosperity in life. He trusted the Living God and became a living testimony in his time.
Being reliant on the Word of God makes us delightful before the Lord. And we truly believe that if we delight the Lord, His loving-favor would be upon us. In Psalm 37:4-5, it is written, Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. (KJV) How thankful we should be to God because of His hope-giving Word which gives us encouragement at all times.
King Hezekiah did not only enjoy God’s favor in his healthy days but in his ailing days as well. In II Kings 20:1-3, it is written, In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. (KJV) These verses give us a glimpse of Hezekiah’s emotional moments because of what he heard from the prophet Isaiah concerning his approaching death. It would be hard to imagine if similar situation comes to us unexpectedly. However, we could still have that inner joy because we have the assurance that our God is prayer-hearing and prayer answering and He knows our weaknesses and sees our tears during disturbing moments.
A prayerful study on how God heard and answered Hezekiah’s heart-touching prayer will surely lead us to a more powerful and exciting prayer life. Keep in mind that a prayerful believer is undoubtedly a person who really knows the unlimited power of God.
(I) We Must Come To Him For Help
II Kings 20:1-3
-During trying moments
It is quite inevitable for a natural man to worry whenever he sees signs of uncertainty, but for a Bible-believing Christian, he must be constantly reminded that God has given him precious promises he could cling to. In Philippians 4:6, it is written, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (KJV) Apparently, the common problem of many people during difficult times is that they overlook the helping hand of God; they tend to forget the power of prayer.
When King Hezekiah realized that death was about to take his life, the Bible tells us that he turned his face to the wall and prayed unto the LORD. He did what is right: he came to the right Person and poured his heart asking God to remember him. God heard his prayer and saw his tears. As an amazing result, God kept him from death and extended fifteen more years to his life. The LORD also assured him of their deliverance from the hands of the Assyrians. Truly, God is a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. Come to Him in prayer and be amazed what God can do for you.
(II) We Should Not Doubt His Promises
II Kings 20:4-11 Luke 18:27
-His Word is Truth
-There’s nothing too hard for Him
Worriers and doubters tend to limit the power of God, but those who believe the Word of God will never be shaken by the uncertainties of life. God’s Word is trustworthy and they that love His words will surely enjoy great blessings from above.
In II Kings 20:4-7, it is written, And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. (KJV) What a wonderful result of Hezekiah’s heart-touching prayer to God. His fears and insecurities vanished because God remembered him in his troublous time.
Obviously, King Hezekiah’s insecurity was manifested by asking God for a satisfying sign. He doubted the certainty of God’s healing upon his body, but we thank God because He understands our condition that we are just human in need of an increase of faith.
In II Kings 20:8-11, it is written, And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. (KJV) These Bible passages show us how kind and how patient our God is. Like Hezekiah, many of us want a heart-calming sign from God when doubt surfaces, but God has always a way of showing us His awesome working. Truly, God is so faithful and so kind to us.
We should never underestimate the power of God. In Luke 18:27, it is written, And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (KJV) This faith-strengthening passage should not be taken lightly but seriously. It reminds us of the supremacy of God. We must bear in mind that no one could set boundary when it comes to the power of our prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God. So what are we waiting for? Let’s ask things from God in the precious name of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and be a significant part of His marvelous working.
ILAGAN BAPTIST CHURCH
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