“GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE!” 2 Kings 19:1-19
FBCF – 4/21/24
Jon Daniels
INTRO – Are you an “identity amnesiac”? Term coined by Paul David Tripp – New Morning Mercies. A person is an identity amnesiac when, in the middle of a challenging situation, a moment of temptation, or a fearful experience, they forget who they are. It can & will happen to any of us at any time in an unguarded moment.
Happened to me this past week – Driving toward Madison on 463. Was listening to Adrian Rogers sermon, “How to Be a Growing Christian.” Guy in truck passed me on 463 at high rate of speed w/ 2 cars coming down a hill toward us. Said out loud, “What in the world?” And in that moment, I became an identity amnesiac – I forgot who I was. Floored it – got right on his bumper – both doing 70 mph – then I passed him as soon as I could.
Came to place where road work was happening – one-lane road w/ flagman. Got out of truck. Walked back to his truck & apologized & asked for his forgiveness for my stupidity – for my identity amnesia – for forgetting who I was!
We continue looking at the faithful life of King Hezekiah today in a moment when he & his people ran the real risk of being identity amnesiacs by forgetting who they were & who their God was.
EXPLANATION – 2 Kings 19
Still in this same passage as last week – will also be looking at verses in 2 Chron 32. Remember what’s happening:
- Hezekiah – faithful king of Judah – no one like him – obeyed the Lord & trusted Him.
- Assyrian King Sennacherib came up against Hez in year 14 of Hez’s reign – Captured over 40 cities of Judah
- Sent his Tartan, Rab-saris, & Rabshakeh – his Commander in Chief, Field Commander, & Chief of Staff to Hez to try to intimidate him, discredit him, & turn his own people against him.
- Tough time for Hez & for the people of Judah & Jerusalem.
Hez not perfect – showed his weaknesses at times – his uncertainties – his fears – his struggles. Shows us that we can identify w/ him b/c, just like me this week on Hwy 463, we will all have those times of weakness & struggles – times we let our guard down – times we are afraid b/c of circumstances in our lives or b/c of people who are opposing us & making our lives hard.
But here is the truth we can stand on today:
APPLICATION – When you know that God is on your side, you can face anything.
KNOW THIS: GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE…
…IN TIMES OF DEEP DISTRESS – V. 1-7
What’s been the time of deepest distress you’ve ever experienced? Answers across this room would vary from person to person – stories of sickness, death, loss, grief. Not trying to conjure up sad memories for you, but just establishing the common ground on which we all stand – times of deep distress come to every person in many different ways.
Story of a pastor who visited a family who were former church members. Knocked on door – met w/ shocking news that just 24 hrs before, the family’s 8 y/o daughter had been kidnapped from playground across street from home – her doll & 1 little tennis shoe only clues to her disappearance. Law enforcement searching & investigating & following every lead. Weeks late, sad discovery of her body discarded in a field. Search was over – grief was not. Father was a successful executive in a computer firm. His words: “All my life I’ve been trained to solve problems, & I’m good at it. Just give me the data, & w/ the help of the computer I can analyze it & come up w/ solutions. But this problem just doesn’t compute! All of my training & professional experience are useless. It’s like I was back in kindergarten again, trying to learn my ABC’s. I’m as helpless as if I’d never learned anything.”
In those times of deep distress, we find ourselves feeling empty & helpless – like all our resources have either been swept away or rendered useless. And we find out, as Hez & this father found out that the only thing left if our faith in God. I’ve said it many times before & you have, too: I don’t know how people make it through the crises & times of deep distress without the Lord!
BUT – If you know Jesus, you HAVE the Lord! He is with us & is on our side!
- Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
…THROUGH YOUR DEBILITATING FEAR – 2 Chronicles 32:16-18
v. 18 – “And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city.”
They shouted…to frighten & terrify them. Who or what is shouting at you bringing fear into your heart & life?
- Might be a real person who is shouting at you – Not going to re-preach my sermon from last week, but there will be those people in your life who come against you in an effort to scare you & keep you from fulfilling God’s plan & purpose for your life.
o Like the bully on the playground, there will always be those people who aren’t happy unless you are UN-happy.
o Sometimes they are successful – at least temporarily – in bringing us to a point of debilitation, exhausting us w/ their attacks on us.
- Might that the shouts are coming at us, not from real people, but from real problems. Hez & his people were dealing w/ some real problems b/c there was a real army that was lining up, getting ready to attack them – 2 Chronicles 32:2 – “…when Hez saw that Senn had come & intended to fight against Jerusalem…” – It was a real threat w/ real soldiers w/ real weapons ready to bring real shock & awe against the people of Judah!
- We’ve got to acknowledge the problems we are facing & admit the fear that they are bringing into our hearts.
o Financial problem? Acknowledge it
o Marital problem? Acknowledge it.
o Family problem? Acknowledge it.
o Sin/Addiction problem? Acknowledge it.
o Friendship/Relationship problem? Acknowledge it.
o Bitterness/Anger/Unforgiveness problem? Acknowledge it.
- Then admit the fear that your problem has brought into your heart & address your fear w/ the truth of God’s Word!
o Isaiah 41:10 – “…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” And this is just one of a multitude of verses that you can bring to bear & aim against your fears.
…SO STAND IN DETERMINED CONFIDENCE – 2 Chronicles 32:6-8
Why can you stand in determined confidence when God is on your side?
- B/c He gives you strength & courage exactly when you need it! – v. 6-7
- B/c it’s man vs. God - & God always wins! – v. 8a
- B/c God will not only help you – He will fight your battles for you! – v. 8b
v. 6 – “…gathered them TOGETHER…” – And there are others around you who are standing w/ you, too! You’re not alone! We are TOGETHER! The Church stands TOGETHER!
v. 6 – “…[Hez] spoke encouragingly to them…And the people took confidence from the words of Hez…” (v. 8) – “…Hezekiah’s words put steel in their spines.” (MSG)
- Who has God put in your life show speaks “encouragingly” to you? Who has God put in your life who gives you confidence to trust the Lord – whose “words put steel in [your spine]? God has blessed us w/ leaders – pastors – mentors – people that God puts in your life to set an example for you, to teach you, lead you, inspire you, motivate you, encourage you, challenge you to step out in faith & stand strong through those times of distress & fear.
CONCLUSION – Are you in a place right now where you really need to KNOW that God is on your side?
- A place of deep distress?
- A place of debilitating fear?
- Maybe something else – a decision that needs to be made that will change the course of your life?
- Maybe the decision to trust Christ to save you today!
Come today & let someone pray w/ you. Come let someone stand WITH YOU in prayer. Come let someone speak “encouragingly” to you today. Come & let God work in your life today so you can leave here today w/ the determined confidence that God is on your side!
