"By the Foolishness of Preaching"

1Co_1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.


1Co_1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.(Those that believe the preaching of the Cross.)



• If you stand saved today in this place, you stand saved by the foolishness of preaching!

• Paul said, It pleased God to use preaching as the means to save the lost!

• You and I are not smart enough to know God! Man doesn't by his own knowledge have it in him to know God!

• In God's wisdom, God said: "It pleases Me, the Almighty God! Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them! It pleases Me to save the lost by the foolishness of preaching!

• God says to this world: "You'll know Me by the foolishness of preaching!

• The greatest thing that you'll ever do on this earth is to preach the Gospel of the Cross of Christ!



1Co 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

1Co 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

1Co 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.



I've heard Dr. DumbBell's sermon with man's wisdom and the Spirit of God is no where to be found!

• Nobody is saved!

• Nobody is delivered!

• Nobody is healed!



But I've also heard the person that's been to the Cross and has died there, only to be raised from the dead by the grace and power of God! With a message from God!



And hearts were turned to the Lord and directed to that same Cross of death where from that death __God raises the dead!



And the world takes knowledge from them because they have been with Jesus! The foolishness of preaching! The power of God to those that believe! Hallelujah!





1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

1Co 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.



"How do I know God?" Go to the Cross and die!



Did you know?



"There's a Crazy Man Preaching out there somewhere today!"



• He's in a wilderness somewhere!

• He's saying, repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand! (It is near!)

• He's a voice, crying in that wilderness that he is in!

• He's saying, prepare the way for the Lord to come!

• He's saying, make the paths straight!

• They say: "He's crazy!" But God has him "By the Foolishness of Preaching" calling a people to find their way to God!



Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Mat 3:4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Mat 3:5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

Mat 3:6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.



"Why did they come? And what caused them to repent of their sin?"

• They came because John preached!

• Because it was God's prescribed way of saving the lost.



Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Mat 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Mat 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.



"John did not soften the message from God to please men."

The message God gave him to preach was no respector of persons! Only one way for all!! To fall before the Lord Jesus!



That message that every mountain would be brought low! Every knee should bow! Every tongue should confess before the Lord!





Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.





Just as John was preparing the way for the Lord to come, we a preparing the way for the Lord to come.







Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.







Paul said: "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.!



"Let me tell you something about this cross that we are to preach!"



There's no way around it! There's no way over it! There's no way under!

• This Cross that we are to preach has only one purpose! To make something die!

• If you and I surrender our life to the Cross of Christ, we are saying to God and this world: I choose to lay down my life!

• That Cross is an instrument of death where flesh can no longer live for it's own glory!

• At the Cross Jesus said: Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother!

• At the Cross Jesus said:"I thirst."

• At the Cross Jesus said: "My God! My God! Why hast Thou forsaken Me!"

• At the Cross Jesus said: "Forgive them, they know not what they do.
At the Cross Jesus said: "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

• At the Cross Jesus said: "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!"

• At the Cross Jesus said: "It is finished!"



"At the end of the Cross the climax is death!"



When we go to the Cross willingly, we have said goodbye to family, goodbye to friends, to our careers, to all of our hobbies and interests.











Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,



"Saul became a road-kill on the way to Damascus!"

• He went to the Cross and Saul died!

• But God raised him up to be the great apostle Paul!

• God gave a message to preach!

• Those messages became what we have now as most of the New Testament! The Bible! The Word of God!





Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: ( That I might preach with might!)

Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Gal 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

Gal 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.



"When Paul went to the Cross, he died and Christ lived through him!"



• The people heard the foolish preaching how God killed a man on the Cross that was on his way to kill God's children.

• Then raised him up to give life to the very same ones that he once destroyed!

• That's the wisdom of God! The foolishness of preaching is the power of God to us that believe!

• The power to save!

• The power to heal the sick!

• The power to set the captives free!

• The power of the Cross where all must die!

• The power where God raises the dead!



"By the Foolishness of Preaching!"

A Move of God

A Move of God




"I think it is an unbelievable move of God."



I. A move without prayer.



Prayer has become a passing thought to so many today. Instead of a passion to take hold of God to allow Him to put His touch upon our lives, so many have become passive while the lost stay lost, the sick remain unhealed, and those held in bondage to all kind of addictions and sin remain captive.



Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (The Holy Ghost fell on 120 believers that continued together in prayer!)







Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Acts 3:3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

Acts 3:4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

Acts 3:5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Acts 3:8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Acts 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:

Acts 3:10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. (The lame walk when God's people go to praying!)













2Chron 7:11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.

2Chron 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer,(not your idea or survey!) and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

2Chron 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

2Chron 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2Chron 7:15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

2Chron 7:16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

2Chron 7:17 And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;

2Chron 7:18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

2Chron 7:19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;

2Chron 7:20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

2Chron 7:21 And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?

2Chron 7:22 And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.





















Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:















Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.



"So, it's not about you and me. It's about Christ and what He has aready suffered and done to make us one with Him and the Father by the Holy Ghost."



Rom 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Rom 15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Rom 15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Rom 15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.



"These seven verses of Romans 15 tells about separation to God for His purpose for us and His Church that He is building."



A move of God must begin with prayer!



II. A move without separation



2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.



Good News Bible "Paul the Apostle, expresses the absolute necessity of separation for the Believer in Christ."



2Co 6:1 In our work together with God, then, we beg you who have received God's grace not to let it be wasted.

2Cor 6:2 Hear what God says: "When the time came for me to show you favor, I heard you; when the day arrived for me to save you, I helped you." Listen! This is the hour to receive God's favor; today is the day to be saved!

2Cor 6:3 We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way. (Separation is a must!)

2Cor 6:4 Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties.

2Cor 6:5 We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food.

2Cor 6:6 By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants---by the Holy Spirit, by our true love,

2Cor 6:7 by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.

2Cor 6:8 We are honored and disgraced; we are insulted and praised. We are treated as liars, yet we speak the truth;

2Cor 6:9 as unknown, yet we are known by all; as though we were dead, but, as you see, we live on. Although punished, we are not killed;

2Cor 6:10 although saddened, we are always glad; we seem poor, but we make many people rich; we seem to have nothing, yet we really possess everything.

2Cor 6:11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide.

2Cor 6:12 It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us.

2Cor 6:13 I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!

2Cor 6:14 Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together?

2Cor 6:15 How can Christ and the Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

2Cor 6:16 How can God's temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God! As God himself has said, "I will make my home with my people and live among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

2Cor 6:17 And so the Lord says, "You must leave them and separate yourselves from them. Have nothing to do with what is unclean, and I will accept you.

2Cor 6:18 I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."



Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.





"There will never be a move of God without separation!"







III. A move without commitment.



John 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

John 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

Johnn 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

John 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

John 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

John 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

John 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

John 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

John 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

John 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

John 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.





Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

1Tim 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

2Tim 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

1Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.



2Tim 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2Tim 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2Tim 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

2Tim 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

2Tim 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

2Tim 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

2Tim 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.



"There must be commitment in order to have a true move of God!"





IV. A move without power





Matt 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.















Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Luke 10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

Luke 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

Luke 10:24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.















Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.



A move of God without prayer, without separation, and without commitment is truly unbelievable!



But a move of God will bring the power of God to His Church that will be a people of prayer, a people of separation, and a people of commitment.



Are you ready for a move of God? "Do what it takes!"

"Is Your Back Against the Wall?"

2Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah ( strengthened of Jah) 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.


20:2 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.

20:4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

20:5 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.

20:6 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.



Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign as king of Judah. He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did. (2Kings 18:3)



He removed the high places, he brake the images, he cut down the groves, and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made. In other words, He did away with everything that God said would not be tolerated.



The Bible says that Hezekiah trusted in the LORD God of Israel. He clave (held on to) to the Lord, he never stopped following the Lord, and he kept the commandments of the Lord. God's word was highly esteemed in his eyes and heart.



The Bible declares that the Lord was with him. It says that the Lord prospered him everywhere he went. Why? Because he refused to be like the other nations. His God was greater and worthy of total faithfulness. He wasn't blessed because of being relevant to the king of Assyria. He was blessed because he refused to be in agreement with his enemies.



As faithful to God and as good of a king that he was, Hezekiah finds that his back is against the wall, just like we may find ours at times as we are children of the Lord.



We can learn from how Hezekiah responded when his back was against the wall.



First of all, Hezekiah got a message from the Lord:

"Set your house in order."



How do I do this? Hezekiah turned his face from being away from the wall to the direction of the wall!



When your back is against the wall, turn your face to the wall! "Jesus is the wall!"



Zechariah 2:5 says: For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.



The Lord changes not, He is the same, today yesterday and forever! He is a wall unto us! He was Hezekiah's wall that he turned to.



"Turn your face to the wall! Jesus is the wall!"



To Zechariah, the Lord was a wall of fire! A wall of protection! God is our protection!



2Kings 20:2 He turned his face to the wall and prayed unto the Lord. This wall is a wall as built in a trench.



When Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed, he was like the man that digged deep!



His foundation for living was upon the Rock!



Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.



"When Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed unto the Lord, he was digging deeper with his God!"



His digging deeper with God is about to change things! No only that, his life will touch other lives for God!



2Corintians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

4:11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.



"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost!"



What if Hezekiah had not turned his face to the wall and prayed?



What would have happened? He would have died fifteen years earlier!



What would have happened if Hezekiah had not sought the Lord with tears?

Isaiah would have probably have continued to walk though the middle court and finally go completely out of Hezekiah's presence.



Isaiah would have been faithful to God to come to the king with a message from God! "Set your house in order."

Because you are about to die and not live!

It's your time, Hezekiah!



God will sometimes give us a message that says to us: "Set your house in order."



Hezekiah, king of Judah, was a good king, he did a lot of good things in his life. But God still sent the prophet Isaiah with the message! "Set your house in order!"



I believe as I read in Isaiah 38:1-22, that Hezekiah had his back against the wall and had become discouraged as we do sometimes. We get our back against the wall and become discouraged and began to expect all kinds of bad things to overtake us.



We find ourselves entertaining thoughts of just going off the scene little by little, as the enemy runs us down and finally we are left with the attitude of a pessimist!



So there's nothing left to do now but to join those two members of 1st Pessimistical Assembly that have tried relentlessly to get you to come join them and just be a part of them. "Because after all, your back is against the wall!"



"LISTEN!"



"God will bring us out! If we will let Him!"



"God humbled Hezekiah with the message from Isaiah."



To Hezekiah it was and it meant! "Today is the day of salvation!"

He turned his face to the wall!

He prayed unto the Lord!

He wept sore! With anguish!



Hezekiah's weeping was as the weeping of Joseph when he saw his brother Benjamin!



Genesis 43:30 And Joseph made haste! For his bowels did yearn upon his brother! And he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there!



"Joseph turned his face to the wall! And wept!



Hezekiah's weeping was with great anguish and intensity!



It was like Joseph, who could not refrain himself! Joseph could not hold back his anguish and became a loud cry! "Cause every man to go out from me!" Genesis 45:1



And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself know unto his brethren. Genesis 45:1



And Joseph wept aloud! and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. Genesis 45:2



"Is your back against the wall?"



Well, it's time to turn your face to the wall! Pray to your God!



When Hezekiah turned his back away from the wall and turned his face to the wall, "God heard and answered his cry!"



Isaiah 38:4 (Then), came the word of the Lord to Isaiah!



Isaiah 38:5 Go, and say to Hezekiah!



Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father.

I have heard thy prayer!I have seen thy tears!



Behold!!!! (to look and see with joy!) "I will add unto thy days, fifteen years!"



Isaiah probably said to Hezekiah:

You can move your membership from 1st Pessimistical Assembly!



"You're not going to fit in there anymore!"



God said to Hezekiah: "I'm not through with you yet!"



I will deliver you!

I'm going to deliver Jerusalem out of the hand of the devil!

I will defend this city!

I'm going to make the sun go backwards ten degrees to confirm My word will be done that I say unto you!



And all your mulligrubing in coming to a stop today!



Isaiah 38:9-22 God said to Hezekiah:



I know what you've been writing in your journal lately!



What you been writing about your situation would give the people the impression that I'm against you!



"If God is for us, who can be against us?"



Isa 38:9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:

Isa 38:10 I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

Isa 38:11 I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

Isa 38:12 Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

Isa 38:13 I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

Isa 38:14 Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Isa 38:15 What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.

Isa 38:16 O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Isa 38:17 Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Isa 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

Isa 38:19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

Isa 38:20 The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

Isa 38:21 For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.

Isa 38:22 Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?





Pick up that pen and write about the kind of God that I Am!



"I'm the God that raised you from the dead!"



I'm not through with you yet! The devil is defeated!

You are alive for fifteen more years!



You thought it was all over but the crying for you!



But your not dead! Isaiah 38:19 The living! the living! "He shall praise thee! As I do this day!"



The father to the children shall make known thy truth!



Isaiah 38:20 The Lord was ready to save me! When my back was against the wall! The Lord was ready to save me!



Therefore (You know what we are going to do?")



Therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord!



? "Is your back against the wall today?"



Are you a member of 1st Pessimistical Assembly?



The Answer is Jesus! Look to Jesus!



Just turn around today!



Turn your face to the wall!



Call on His name! His name is Jesus!



Hear the Lord say:



I have heard thy prayer!

I have seen thy tears!



2Ki 20:4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

2Ki 20:5 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.

2Ki 20:6 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.



Behold, (see for yourself!) I will heal thee!



On the third day, it will happen! It has already happened on the third day!



You will go up into the house of the Lord!



"The living, the living, he shall praise the Lord! As I do this day!



The father to the children shall make known thy truth!



The Lord was (is) ready to save me; therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the Lord!



2Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.



"Turn your eyes upon Jesus!"