In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (2 Kings 20:1-3 ESV)
Have you ever had your back against a wall? Have you ever been to a place where you didn't know where to go or what to do? Have you ever had a need to pray the biggest prayer that you've ever had because you are facing the biggest need of your life?
I'm sure that all of us have been there and done that. It's a given in life - not everyday is going to be perfect and some day will be more challenging than others.
Hezekiah was sick and was about to die. Hezekiah then prayed a BIG prayer asking God for healing from this disease. Eventually God brought a miraculous healing - adding 15 years to his life.
Let me give you some of the principles that Hezekiah applied to his life to bring about a victorious miracle in his life.
6 Things For A Breakthrough Miracle
Go to 2 Kings 18.
Hezekiah = Yahweh strengthens.
Hezekiah is story of a young man who needed a breakthrough. He needed a miracle in his life. God gave him some principles for him that would guarantee breakthrough. Principles that would ensure revival and make room for the miraculous.
There is nothing deep here - it is very simple.
I hear a lot of people who say "I can't." It will never happen to me. But I want to encourage you with "God can. You can. He will."God will be faithful to His word.
1. He Trusted In The Lord - vv. 5-6
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. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. (2 Kings 18:5-6 ESV)
He trusted in the Lord (v.5)- and the result was… there was never another king like him in the land of Judah. He remained faithful (v.6) and he carefully obeyed (v.6) He did what God asked him to do.
It starts here - Can you trust God enough to give him your total heart?
2. Be Willing To Break The Mold - vv.2-3
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. (2 Kings 18:2-3 ESV)
Do the math. He was a young man and reigned until he was 54. He was willing to do things differently.
His father was a corrupt man. He was bound up in sexual immorality. He was a murderer.
Go to 2 Kings 18.
Hezekiah = Yahweh strengthens.
Hezekiah is story of a young man who needed a breakthrough. He needed a miracle in his life. God gave him some principles for him that would guarantee breakthrough. Principles that would ensure revival and make room for the miraculous.
There is nothing deep here - it is very simple.
I hear a lot of people who say "I can't." It will never happen to me. But I want to encourage you with "God can. You can. He will."God will be faithful to His word.
1. He Trusted In The Lord - vv. 5-6
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. For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses. (2 Kings 18:5-6 ESV)
He trusted in the Lord (v.5)- and the result was… there was never another king like him in the land of Judah. He remained faithful (v.6) and he carefully obeyed (v.6) He did what God asked him to do.
It starts here - Can you trust God enough to give him your total heart?
2. Be Willing To Break The Mold - vv.2-3
He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. (2 Kings 18:2-3 ESV)
Do the math. He was a young man and reigned until he was 54. He was willing to do things differently.
His father was a corrupt man. He was bound up in sexual immorality. He was a murderer.
Hezekiah was willing to stand up against his fathers counselors. He was willing to stand up for that which was different and break the mold.
3. Be Willing To Destroy The Idols In Your Life - v. 4
He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). (2 Kings 18:4 ESV)
What are your idols in your life? We must be willing to lay our idols down if there is going to be a fresh anointing in our lives.
So… Hezekiah got his heart right. He broke with tradition and He tore down the idols.
4. Refuse Bondage - vv. 7-8
And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city. (2 Kings 18:7-8 ESV)
Judah was sandwiched between two world powers, Egypt and Assyria. Both wanted to control Judah and Israel because they lay at the vital crossroads of all ancient Near East trade.
The nation that controlled Judah would have a military and economic advantage over its rivals.
When Hezekiah became king, Assyria controlled Judah. With great courage, Hezekiah rebelled against this mighty empire to whom his father had submitted.
He placed his faith in God’s strength rather than his own, and he obeyed God’s commands in spite of the obstacles and dangers that, from a purely human standpoint, looked overwhelming.
He said, “We won't pay anything to the enemy.”
Don't give the enemy anything to work with.
Gal. 6:1 – “Stand fast…”
5. Stand Firm - 18:9- ch. 21
Stand firm when hell breaks loose.
When he withstood the kings of Assyria - The next three chapters tell how ugly it got.
The Assyrians came and surrounded Jerusalem. They promised the people of Israel that they would end up eating their babies and drinking their urine.
"YOUR GOD CAN'T PROTECT YOU. IN FACT… YOUR GOD TOLD US TO COME AND DESTROY YOU."
When we are contending for a miracle – often – Satan will come and try to destroy you.
Hezekiah calls a fast. The Bible tells us how tearful he was and how frightened he was. He tore his clothes and cried out to God.
What are your idols in your life? We must be willing to lay our idols down if there is going to be a fresh anointing in our lives.
So… Hezekiah got his heart right. He broke with tradition and He tore down the idols.
4. Refuse Bondage - vv. 7-8
And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. He struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city. (2 Kings 18:7-8 ESV)
Judah was sandwiched between two world powers, Egypt and Assyria. Both wanted to control Judah and Israel because they lay at the vital crossroads of all ancient Near East trade.
The nation that controlled Judah would have a military and economic advantage over its rivals.
When Hezekiah became king, Assyria controlled Judah. With great courage, Hezekiah rebelled against this mighty empire to whom his father had submitted.
He placed his faith in God’s strength rather than his own, and he obeyed God’s commands in spite of the obstacles and dangers that, from a purely human standpoint, looked overwhelming.
He said, “We won't pay anything to the enemy.”
Don't give the enemy anything to work with.
Gal. 6:1 – “Stand fast…”
5. Stand Firm - 18:9- ch. 21
Stand firm when hell breaks loose.
When he withstood the kings of Assyria - The next three chapters tell how ugly it got.
The Assyrians came and surrounded Jerusalem. They promised the people of Israel that they would end up eating their babies and drinking their urine.
"YOUR GOD CAN'T PROTECT YOU. IN FACT… YOUR GOD TOLD US TO COME AND DESTROY YOU."
When we are contending for a miracle – often – Satan will come and try to destroy you.
Hezekiah calls a fast. The Bible tells us how tearful he was and how frightened he was. He tore his clothes and cried out to God.
He did what all of us should do - just be steadfast - stand firm.
There are areas that are in my life that I’ve had to stand firm in prayer. Some things take a long time with much prevailing prayer.
Hezekiah stood firm when all hell was breaking loose against him.
6. Be Driven To Prayer - Chapter 20
He was driven to prayer because of his personal circumstances. He was told that he was going to die. God reversed the decision.
Not only did he reverse the decision – He made the sun dial reverse itself as a sign for him.
There are areas that are in my life that I’ve had to stand firm in prayer. Some things take a long time with much prevailing prayer.
Hezekiah stood firm when all hell was breaking loose against him.
6. Be Driven To Prayer - Chapter 20
He was driven to prayer because of his personal circumstances. He was told that he was going to die. God reversed the decision.
Not only did he reverse the decision – He made the sun dial reverse itself as a sign for him.
God can do that in your life also. You might be facing a difficult place or wall in your life. Begin to shape and align your life into God's order. Take God's principles and apply to them to your daily life. Allow God to shape and build your faith. Trust Him always - even when it gets hard.
Sadly, Hezekiah allowed pride to get come into his heart in his later years. He didn't continue with a grateful heart. His last few years were filled with bitterness and stress.
Yes, you can a miracle today but your heart must be firm on the things of The Lord. Don't forget that there is power in your prayers and continue to believe God for your miracle.
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