A Quick Change of Government 11/26/2017: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:00 So if you want to get your bibles out this is second Chronicles chapter 29 and we’re talking about Hezekiah and this story [unclear] is very similar to where we’re at in America in our country. Where the church is at and where the nation is at so I think this is very pertinent to us today and there’s gonna be a lot of things about you as a Christian who’s been a Christian for a long time or a Christian maybe not even a Christian maybe you’ve been a Christian for a year you know this is there’s a lot of stuff in here to address a lot of different things so. There’s a man his name was Hezekiah and he was king so imagine you have a president of a nation this is king Hezekiah alright and he has inherited a mess.

▶ 1:00 From the previous king his father the previous king his own dad the previous king gave him a sinful. Nation and a moral mess. But. Second Chronicles chapter 29 verse 6 tells us all about it he says this is Hezekiah talking our fathers have trespassed that means they’ve sinned they’ve done evil and if you don’t know it [unclear] you can start filling stuff out because that’s what we’re talking about right here right now we’re going right through here they have forsaken him how many knows what forsaken means how many of the Bible says that he will never leave us nor forsake us but here we have an example of some people that have totally turned their backs given God the finger given him the hand and said forget you God I’m not following you I’m not living for you not serving you they have forsaken him they have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the Lord meaning that they are no longer in the church they’re no longer don’t care about it the church’s a waste of time to them they turn their backs on God and they shut up the doors of the temple the vestibule they shut up the doors that means that

▶ 2:31 they were not open and how many know we need the doors to be open if you want to get into something if you want to get into the temple you’ve got to open the doors as. Christians you have to open up the door to Jesus Christ you have to let him into your life see I’m gonna be looking to you for answers okay Robby Bobby okay as. Christians you got to open the door and these guys shut the doors they weren’t they weren’t even entering the temple they wouldn’t allow God in their lives yeah the presence of God was no longer there because they weren’t going in they weren’t doing anything and I’m just giving you the state of where things are at it says that they put out the lamps and a lot of you may not know but the lamps were supposed to be burning all the time just like the spirit of God it is burning all the time whether you’ve got [unclear] or not it is always burning.

▶ 3:41 they have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place so here they are they haven’t offered any offerings like this morning what do we offer today to Jesus Christ Bobby what do we offer today mr. Buck still over here what are we offering today praise thanksgiving to Jesus Christ right see they weren’t doing that they weren’t offering what the old testament offering [unclear] and the burnt offering they weren’t coming to the burnt offering to get forgiveness from sin and that’s where you come to Jesus and say Jesus forgive me for my sin I’ve made a mistake I need you to forgive me to cleanse me. And it says therefore the wrath of the Lord fell upon Judah and Jerusalem he’s given them up to trouble to desolation desolation is like.

▶ 4:37 Another meaning is waste you’ve been made waste I mean just like you don’t want to come to this area I mean how many have ever been out in the desert when it is screaming hot and there’s nothing there there’s no water nothing you’d have to be crazy to just you know want to live there without any provisions because it’s like a wasteland. as you see with your eyes for indeed because of this our fathers have fallen by the sword our sons [unclear] our sons our daughters and our wives are in captivity. So there was a payment for all this sin and Hezekiah could see it Hezekiah recognized this is because of all the things that they did in the years before so he decide he made a decision the king made a decision in 29 verse 10 he said it is in my heart to make a covenant a commitment.

▶ 5:44 How many guys have ever made a commitment in your life how many guys ever made a covenant a commitment saying I am going to do this no matter what. He made a covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ God. that [unclear] his fierce wrath may turn away Hezekiah knew that judgment was coming and right now in America we have a tendency to ignore it because it’s so easy to ignore it I mean we have albertson’s down the street we’ve got the beach is right over the mountain you know if I want to get an ice-cream it’s right there if I want to get that from the store it’s right there boom boom boom vacation ah you know I get what I want I want God who’s God what do I care.

▶ 6:51 And see God uses things like war to wake us up and so. Hezekiah. Decided to go against what his dad said his father was Ahaz his father was why the judgment was coming and you notice how Hezekiah wasn’t defending his dad he wasn’t saying oh that’s my dad you can’t tell me that he didn’t do what was right because he’s my dad no he said dad you blew it you made a mistake and I’m not following you how many know that takes guts you know and your brother your sister your spouse whatever somebody in your family says. Does a certain thing and you say no I’m not going to do what you say I’m not going to do what you do I’m gonna do what God says to do that’s a big.

▶ 7:52 Decision in your life. But it was easy for him because he said you know all this destruction is here because dad did what was wrong and I’m not going to do that you see it makes sense. So he turned now let’s talk about we know what was bad what was the things that they were doing that were wrong Ahaz also [unclear] he killed one of his sons in the fire he put him in the fire and sacrificed him to his pagan God I mean that’s how bad things were that’s how bad Ahaz was he had a son he just said yeah I want to praise God so I’m gonna burn you in fire. That’s not and he wasn’t praising our God he wasn’t praising Jesus he wasn’t [unclear] God of Abraham [unclear] praising a different God and this God says you got a sacrifice your kid in the fire I mean how many you know that’s not right how many you know that’s your mind has really got to be distorted.

▶ 9:04 That’s how bad things were so Hezekiah he knows this thing is coming you know [unclear] his brother I mean no wonder he doesn’t want to listen to his daddy you know Hezekiah [unclear] by his dad dad what are you doing you’re being stupid you’re being evil in 29 verse 3 it says in the first year in the first month as soon as he became king he didn’t waste any time in the first year in the first month right when he got started Hezekiah was making changes and it doesn’t have to take long you know when once you recognize and you make a covenant with Jesus Christ a commitment to him and you recognize that you’re wrong and then you want to follow him and live for him it doesn’t take long to start making right choices you don’t have to take two years to get saved you don’t have to take five years before something can turn around in your life you can decide immediately.

▶ 10:13 And that’s what Hezekiah did he made a decision immediately. Now it’s great when you have the king who has turned his heart to Jesus how many know we don’t have kings in America that are just you know there so it when you look at America you just think oh my gosh there’s so much to get through I mean oh my God there’s so many people that are just duped into thinking that God isn’t real and God isn’t true. But God can do it. But we need our leaders I mean the question is not can God restore America the question is how can we get leaders to turn their hearts to Jesus Christ because when that leader when the king decided I am going to make a commitment with God nobody could tell him what to do nobody could change his mind and he was making changes and that’s exactly what [unclear] let’s go on so what did he do number one let’s see do you have that list yeah number one he what did he do he opened the doors what were they before they were what shut.

▶ 11:41 You know if you’re a young Christian you need to open the doors of your mouth when you come in to praise God you’ve got to open the doors of your mouth when you accept Jesus Christ in your heart you have to open your mouth and say Jesus forgive me you have to open your mouth Cristina can’t pray for you pray over you God save this person I can’t do it you have to do it and you’ll learn why in a few minutes. so no one was going into the [unclear] it was closed the church was shut down nobody going there nobody assembling like we are today nobody nobody’s burning any incense nobody’s you know this is a it’s like coming here and the doors are shut and locked and they’ve been locked for two years and nobody’s been gathering here and that’s what it’s like and there’s no church in all of California doing that that’s how that’s where we’re at right now how many know that’s a big problem amen.

▶ 12:49 Secondly he brought the priests and the Levites and he gathered them in the east square you see you couldn’t just have anyone work in the in the temple at that time it couldn’t just be anyone you had to get the priests that were [unclear] of Aaron you had to get the Levites that were of the tribe of Levi. And you see Hezekiah knew this he was in the Bible he was in the scriptures he knew. Who was supposed to he didn’t just go willy-nilly [unclear] throw somebody in no he said what does God want and I’m just showing you you know we’ve got to go and say what does God want how does God want me to approach him Sunday morning what does God want me to do during the week how does God want me to live and Hezekiah went I’m just showing you this guy.

▶ 13:46 Made the right decision and we can make the right decision but we’ve got to say what does God want me to do stop asking what does everybody else want me to do what is you know the [unclear] people at school what do they want me to yeah you got to learn but what about your life your goals your direction you got to get that from God your behavior your character that doesn’t come from teachers in school well it should but it comes from God and the Bible.

▶ 14:23 In second Chronicles 29:11 he told them my sons do not be negligent the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence to serve him to be his ministers and burn incense [unclear] yeah you got to understand this is the Old Testament this is thousands of years ago okay and you had to be of a certain family to be in the temple but when Jesus came and he died on the cross [unclear] 1st Peter 2:9 what does it say somebody quote that scripture me Jim Thompson Rita tell me what it is 1st Peter 2:9 somebody who’s got he’s got it who knows it 1st Peter 2:9 says you you you you are a chosen generation a royal priesthood you’re a royal priesthood I don’t care where you’re from I don’t care who you were born to it doesn’t matter you when you’ve accepted Jesus Christ when you have committed to him you are a chosen generation you are a royal priesthood you don’t have to be part of Levi anymore ok you’re in the church you’re here in America you’re part of the 7 billion people on the planet and you have an opportunity to be a priest for Jesus Christ.

▶ 15:46 To be a royal priesthood be a chosen generation be chosen by God you understand what I’m saying. So he sent the Levites in the priests to sanctify the house of the Lord and carry out the filth. You know the church had been shut up the doors were shut up all this junk was in there all the dirt filth yuck cobwebs galore and just yuck yuck junk. That’s a lot like what sin is you know at some point in your life you got to decide if I’m going to serve Jesus Christ I’ve got to get the filth out of my life and Jesus has the tools to help you get it out and look we can’t be apologizing for this anymore you see Jesus saying to somebody get the filth out of your life it’s not a bad thing it’s a good thing it’s going to help you the filth creates problems I don’t want my you know every night I deal with my kids you know what I do with them I put them in the bath.

▶ 17:01 Because I need to get the filth off of them because you know babies put their hands in all these places and she’s dirty and if you don’t go if you don’t get down there and start washing and getting the stuff out you’re gonna have problems and it’s the same way in your Christian walk you’ve got to carry out get out the filth and as your when you as a teenager as a young person I mean you are gonna be bombarded with filth. You are and you’ve got to decide you’ve got to decide if you’re going to partake in the filth and if you do partake in the filth you got to decide [unclear] I got to get rid of this. For eight days they sanctify the house of the Lord and they finished so in eight days it took eight days I don’t know why [unclear] mentioning this I’m just saying they were in there working everyday you know there’s a work to be done you know there’s a work we got to do it does it takes some action it takes some getting up it takes some getting down to take you’ve got to do something they were in there cleaning sweeping whatever tools they use back then you know I’m glad I don’t live back in that day you know we can get a tractor [unclear] stuff down they didn’t have that well they had the ox.

▶ 18:39 And they sanctify they purified the temple and it’s not a bad thing to get the sin out of your life to get purified Bible says with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible. okay whatever sin it is you think that you’re stuck in a sin if you think you’re stuck as a homosexual you think you’re stuck as a sexually immoral [unclear] you’re stuck with alcohol or drugs you feel like you’re stuck there with men this is impossible but with God all things are possible you can come out of this you’ve got to start asking the right question God what do I need to do God how can you take this out of my life God what do I need to do. You’re talking about a big God.

▶ 19:34 He sits outside the earth and he looks at it he’s that big and then he sits outside the universe and he looks at the universe he’s that big our God is big he’s powerful. 2nd Chronicles 29 [unclear] I can’t pass this up 1st Corinthians 6:19 this is not in your worksheet it says do you not know that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit young people old people you’ve got to recognize and understand that you are the temple of God you’re not only a chosen generation a royal priesthood you’re also where God wants to live.

▶ 20:29 You know why this world is here why we were created the Bible says that we are his inheritance he wants us he wants you he wants you he is waiting for people to decide to live for him so that they can be with him he is after you. He’s after you to live with you in eternity. He doesn’t care about the fish that are in the water he doesn’t care about the lions that are [unclear] I mean he made them they’re beautiful they’re wonderful but he’s that’s not his end goal that’s not his concern you are his concern.

▶ 21:19 Second Chronicles 29 19 moreover the utensils which king Ahaz cast away when he was [unclear] when he was transgressing okay let’s stop there king Ahaz he’s the dope right he’s the idiot that did all the bad things he threw out utensils that they were supposed to be serving with he cast him out why who knows why maybe he didn’t know that you’re supposed to use these things you guys we can’t throw out when we come in to worship this morning we can’t throw out raising hands I can’t throw out clapping I can’t throw out singing these are all ways and utensils to serve and praise God I can’t tell you how to worship through my method I’ve got to give you the method that God chose.

▶ 22:23 We don’t sit during worship we stand. we don’t [unclear] we don’t just go home. and stay home for church [unclear] the method the utensil is gathering together that’s what God chose I can’t give you another way king Ahaz he just threw out the utensils shut the doors and just let it rot we can’t do that we’re not here to make up our own way of having church we’re here to listen to how he wants it done and you see you gotta approach God that way how God how can you get rid of this out of my life how can you do this work. Second Chronicles 29 verse 20 then king Hezekiah rose early gathered the officials of the city went up to the house of the Lord you guys got to understand something is he gathered the officials the government officials and some of these guys worked for Ahaz you understand that you know they weren’t necessarily on board but [unclear] Hezekiah didn’t care he didn’t care if they were on board.

▶ 23:44 He said hey come over here this is what we’re doing now. Okay I want I want this guy’s attitude I mean he is relentless he is just not stopping the list just goes on he just what else do you want me to do God and that’s the way we should be. What else do you want me to do how else you what can what else can we hit God I’ll just tackle it. Second Chronicles 29 verse 24 the king commanded the priests to offer burnt offering sin offering for Israel’s atonement so first of all again there had been no burnt offerings going on all right so now he is starting it up again he is he is starting the engine here we go I’ve got all this preparation I got the house ready it’s been sanctified it’s clean okay now we’re ready to burn the sacrifices right and not.

▶ 24:48 Only just burned the sacrifices but he says here. For all Israel now who what do you know what he was king over. What was he king over the land of what Judah. Judah was one tribe of Israel but he is wanting to make the burnt offering in the sin offering for all Israel. there’s 11 other tribes [unclear] that they split up [unclear] there’s more and you see he’s not just concerned about Judah he’s concerned about the whole nation.

▶ 25:41 you got this guy [unclear] going on 25 the king stationed the Levites in the lord’s house with cymbals harps and lyres as commanded you know one day one day Cristina will get [unclear] the church will get this worship where we’re playing the instruments again other than you know the piano and drums and all all that we’ll get the what is it we need a violin we need what else come on [unclear] trumpets cellos you know and yes we’re guilty but you know king Hezekiah he just didn’t let anything stop him he said give me those people get him here and they had to be Levites I mean. He was just relentless.

▶ 26:37 He commanded the burnt offering to be done at the same time the song of the Lord began with trumpets and instruments ordained by king David of Israel see he didn’t just do it his way he looked it up in the scriptures how did David do this how when God visited David hey you know I want to follow that pattern I don’t want to just follow any pattern that’s why we go to the Psalms and we say well what did they do there oh they sing oh they lift their hands oh they dance that’s why we do it. Cuz Hezekiah he looked in the past he said what should we be doing how can I restore this. He commanded I already said that and oh my goodness number ten you guys buckle up okay is it number ten no no oh man see I got it number ten on mine sorry when I was back spacing I must have backspace something out it says all the congregation how many all the congregation that means the teenagers the young.

▶ 27:49 People the old people how many again oh the congregation worshiped the singers saying oh imagine that they say they’re supposed to sing the trumpeters sounded and the king and all present with him bowed themselves down and worshiped the leaders bowed down how many would like to see a leader in America bow down get on their knees and worship Jesus God the father how many that would be awesome the king ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with Psalms not just any old song it actually says the Psalms of David and [unclear] and they sang with they sang with gladness and they bowed down they bowed down they bowed themselves down and worship and this is all leading up to something you know when you do this kind of thing and you’re consistent when you guys go home and you start getting God’s attention something begins to happen.

▶ 29:04 Something happens. [unclear] the king called for an offering no oh man he called for an offering and the people brought plenty for a burnt offering and plenty more for consecrated things see now you got to understand the Levites and the priests they were out of a job do you understand that they were out of a job they had not been working in the temple the temple was shut up right there doors were closed the Levites didn’t have any land remember the Levites don’t have land they had to go work for somebody because their their inheritance was to work for the house of Lord you remember that right but they didn’t have a job so here Hezekiah takes up an offering all of a sudden in five minutes Levites got a job Levites have enough meat they have enough they can they have money now to work with and resources all the sudden God just turns it around.

▶ 30:19 Amen. and they went Hezekiah went from nothing. Cristina. do we have something here we have something God can take nothing and I’m just realizing that now that’s why I wanted to bring it up. All right so going on so he did all this they got so excited about what had happened about getting things you know the temple opened again all the temples open churches going on oh we’re praising God we’re praying we’re lifting up his name we’re offering the sacrifices so [unclear] and he’s just like oh I have a great idea.

▶ 31:13 Let’s call all of Israel together and this is what is happening now second Chronicles 30 verse 1 Hezekiah sent to all Israel. Judah and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh and they part they’re part of Israel to come to the lord’s house come to the lord’s house. At Jerusalem to keep to keep the Passover of the Lord so he’s making the call for them to come together. And you know Hezekiah. He’s so crazy he had it on a different day you know the Passover like Christmas is on December 21st 25th right you know [unclear] like you know what I want to get this done so bad let’s gather on February 24 25th okay oh I don’t care we’re gonna celebrate Christmas on February 25th I mean that’s what’s happening here they chose a different day and they were so excited about they wanted to get together they wanted this to happen.

▶ 32:29 And they made a proclamation throughout all Israel the message was sent out by runners. [unclear] they had a message for all Israel inviting them to come and also saying don’t be a bunch of stubborn stiff neck people like your fathers were but yield yourselves you guys know what yield means that means humble giving. Humble yourself to Jesus Christ how many know you get a you get you you would get very far with God and Jesus if you were to yield yourself. If you return to the Lord your children will find compassion from their captors and return to this land the Lord is gracious and merciful he will not turn his face away from you if you return to him.

▶ 33:30 How many know when God turns his face at you that is a good thing you want that we want his face. Turn to us blessing us. But we got to return to him we’ve got to live for him we’ve got to follow him so the runners went from city to city but the people laughed oh. God oh God [unclear] is so yesterday. they [unclear] it says they laughed them to scorn and [unclear] mocked them how many know guys I mean the church is mocked today God is mocked today you know and if we’re to send out a message oh these [unclear] are gathering together and if the news [unclear] coming look at these Christians look at these Christians they’re a bunch of dopes what are they doing they’re gathering together huh stupid stupid thing look at this group of people in this place what are they here for who knows they’re gonna praise some God in heaven I don’t know what they’re doing.

▶ 34:40 The runners. You know especially if the meeting was about turning from sin you know and if we listed the sins you know we’d really get mocked not just oh pray you know pray is kind of obscure oh we’ll come and pray anybody might come and pray but when you say we’re gonna pray that we turn from this sin and that sin and this sin is sexual immorality they be oh what are you doing here oh you guys are so what are you doing you’re just a bunch of idiots. So that’s what’s going on the runners went out to send the message and they just laughed at him. But the Bible says in second Chronicles chapter 30 verse 11 yet a few a few a few of Asher Manasseh and summons in zebulon humbled themselves and came.

▶ 35:40 And you know there may not be a lot of people but we’re after the few that will respond because it only takes a few but you know you know if they had neglected to send out the message they wouldn’t have gotten these few they got mocked they got laughed at they got mocked because of the message their message said you guys are doing what’s wrong you’re stiff neck you need to turn from your sin return to the Lord I mean that’s kind of difficult right. They were mocked for it but some. Humble themselves and that’s who God’s looking for. 2nd Chronicles 12:32 [unclear] the hand of God came upon Judah to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king you see all of Judah they were they had one heart they were united how many everybody say united they had one heart say one heart.

▶ 36:51 We’ve got to have one heart in the church you know and I don’t know how that’s gonna happen I really don’t but I know God can do it. And if you read the story if you go home and read this story you’re gonna find out that the people who kept the Passover when they kept the Passover they did it all wrong they weren’t sanctified when they were you know they’re supposed to follow all these rules ok and they made mistakes you know when there when they were supposed to kill the Passover they’re supposed to be sanctified to cleanse when they ate the Passover they were supposed to be cleansed and they just blew it. But Hezekiah said God please accept. Forgive them heal them even though they didn’t do it properly and how many you know we make mistakes you know this morning you know we got we got people that may have not been to church in a while you know we make mistakes but you know God covers that.

▶ 38:02 Right. Mr. [unclear]’s always talking about it you know the word of the Lord and and and prophesying you know you may make a mistake when you do it but God will cover that and we need that thank goodness we can make mistakes I mean some people won’t let it down [unclear] you’ve made a mistake you didn’t follow this rule you didn’t follow it. But God hey let’s relax a little bit. And. I’m sorry I’m trying to find my spot here. So they were having such a good time at this Passover they they called everybody they had arrived and they were keeping the Passover they did it wrong that God that was okay God covered their wrong God accepted it with mistakes why because it says Hezekiah said forgive them because they’re seeking you with their whole heart they’ve set their heart to seek you and you see when you set your heart to seek God you’ve got to give people a break you got to give people a break amen.

▶ 39:28 you can’t kill them over the little rules. And they were having such a good Passover that they said okay the seven days are over we wanted to go on for another seven days so Hezekiah was like okay well I’ve got all this I can I can he donated to the cause he gave some more [unclear] he gave thousands thousands of things thousands of bulls of this thousands of lambs I mean he is giving a lot to this and and that tells you how many people were there a big a lot of people. And so something started to happen people started offering peace offerings they began making confession to the Lord they extended the they extended the meeting another seven days everyone at the assembly rejoiced see this went from just a little group to now you have this whole assembly is now experiencing the same thing as the other folks there was great joy in the whole city because of this the priests and the Levites prayed and blessed the people who came and God.

▶ 40:47 Heard their prayer the results second Chronicles 31 when all this was finished Israel went out of the cities they went out to the cities of Judah and all of Judah because Hezekiah was king over Judah and everybody there they broke in pieces the stupid sacred stones that they kept [unclear] to some other God they said what is this get rid of it they cut down the Asherah pole which was another God they cut that down and said forget this baloney they threw down the high places which is a substitute. They threw down the high places and not just in Judah but Benjamin Ephraim and Manasseh this is a big deal this is a big deal and Hezekiah started to rebuild the church and lastly.

▶ 41:44 People started to tithe can you believe that holy cow so they went from nobody in all of Israel is keeping anything they’re not going to church the doors are shut there’s no jobs to the Levites anymore there’s no ministers I mean that’s what it looks like in our interpretation and in just a little bit of time Hezekiah brought back everything. People started tithing and all of a sudden there were resources oh now we can now we can bring the Levites in the priests in we can get this going again. second Chronicles chapter 32 verse 1 [unclear] of Assyria he’s another king of another land came and he.

▶ 42:42 Was there to take the land. You know I think now that doesn’t say this but I think [unclear] was coming to bring judgment on Israel and Judah because of what Ahaz had done remember the dad the father who messed up yeah I think this guy was [unclear] from God he was coming. He was coming to bring judgment on on Judah but Hezekiah reversed the whole thing. The king of Assyria had a hundred and eighty five thousand mighty men of valor knocking on the door of Judah saying we are going to destroy you.

▶ 43:36 They were there to kill everyone to take over the land and God turned it around because someone. Hezekiah one man decided I am committed to the Lord and I. I’m gonna do whatever it takes. To get this turned around and if you don’t know. God sent an angel and he. Destroyed that whole Assyrian army. You guys understand that that Assyrian army was there to destroy Israel destroyed Judah.

▶ 44:29 But they couldn’t because of what Hezekiah did. And we need that kind of attitude we need an attitude like Hezekiah [unclear] we’ve got to start thinking about how can we turn the tide. II Chronicles chapter 31 verse 21 in every work that he began talking about Hezekiah in the service of the house of God in keeping with the law and the commandments to seek his God he did it with all his heart and he prospered.